Pittsburgh Dynamo TOPSoccer Current Season:
**Pittsburgh Dynamo TOPSoccer Spring 2025 Outdoor**
The Dynamo TOPSoccer Spring 2025 season will run on Sunday mornings 9:45-10:45am from April 27, 2025 through June 15, 2025 on Community Day School’s outdoor field located at 2743 Beechwood Blvd, Pittsburgh, PA 15217. You can register to join us for the spring season here!
TOPSoccer Upcoming Events:
**PA West TOPSoccer Summer Series**
Facilitated by PA West TOPSoccer, this program consists of weekly sessions hosted by local TOPSoccer clubs. Each session consists of a typical TOPSoccer session for the first hour and a fun activity/event for the final 30 min. Players do not have to be registered in a TOPSoccer program to participate because registration will be through PA West. Summer 2025 dates listed below, locations TBD. Check back for updates!
- June 18, 25
- July 9, 16, 23, 30
- August 6, 13
**All-PA TOPSoccer Event**
This is a weekend-long event to be hosted by PA West TOPSoccer and Eastern PA Youth Soccer. Tentative plans for the weekend include volunteer (coach and buddy) training opportunities and player activities. Location will be centrally located in the state but is still TBD. Possible dates are listed below. Check back for updates!
- August 8-10
OR
- August 15-17
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What is US Youth Soccer TOPSoccer?
TOPSoccer (The Outreach Program for Soccer) is a recreational soccer program for players with intellectual, emotional, or physical disabilities. From the US Youth Soccer website: "There are thousands of children with disabilities who need—and can be provided with—the opportunity to play soccer through the TOPSoccer program." As a US Youth Soccer-affiliated soccer club, Pittsburgh Dynamo is proud to be a supporter of this very special program. Additional information on the US Youth Soccer TOPSoccer program model is included below under FAQs.
A TOPSoccer overview from coordinators, parents, players, and buddies.
What does Dynamo’s TOPSoccer program look like?
Dynamo's TOPSoccer program aims to provide the same benefits to players as our Recreational and Travel programs: soccer skill, knowledge, and sportsmanship—with supports in place for players of all abilities to succeed. We also work to provide the same benefits to Dynamo TOPSoccer players as all USYS TOPSoccer programs: social skills, teamwork, perseverance, and confidence.
Dynamo’s previous TOPSoccer program ended during the Pandemic, but Dynamo is working hard to bring it back! We anticipate beginning our first TOPSoccer session as an indoor session running from approximately January through March 2025. As the program grows, we hope to have a fall outdoor season, a winter indoor season, and a spring outdoor season that roughly mirror the timeline of our Recreational and Travel programs. TOPSoccer Program development depends on community needs and interest. If you would like to learn more about Dynamo’s TOPSoccer program as a player and/or volunteer, please fill out this interest form and be sure to check the box indicating you would like to be added to the email list for program updates. Dynamo will also post program updates on this webpage.
Once registration begins, there will be a $10 fee per player to cover insurance and PA West registration costs. If a family cannot afford this, a sponsor will be found for the player so no one is turned away. We don't want cost to be a barrier.
If you have specific questions about Dynamo’s TOPSoccer program, please email us at [email protected]. We look forward to hearing from you!
What if I want to play in a TOPSoccer program right now?
The PA West State Soccer Association (PA West) TOPSocer page has info on the local programs in the Pittsburgh area. Specifics of TOPSoccer programs (seasons, schedules, etc.) may vary between soccer clubs but all are guided by the same US Youth Soccer TOPSoccer program model.
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FAQs:
1) What makes the TOPSoccer model successful?
TOPSoccer uses a buddy system where volunteer buddies (usually 13 years old or older) are paired with players for the duration of a season in order to build strong relationships that help players succeed in the program. TOPSoccer volunteer coaches participate in training that includes disability awareness and guidelines for adaptations and modifications/accommodations to the program so that it can meet the needs of all players. When appropriate and feasible, TOPSoccer players participate in groups based on ability, not age, so they can develop at their own pace.
An example of what a TOPSoccer program may look like.
2) Can a player participate if they…
a. Use a wheelchair or walker or crutches?
b. Wear braces?
c. Are nonverbal?
d. Are visually impaired?
e. Are deaf or hard of hearing?
Yes, yes, yes, yes, and yes! TOPSoccer welcomes any player, regardless of how they move around, the equipment they use, their preferred method of communication, their vision, and their hearing. When possible, sharing information about needs before, during, or soon after registration will help program administrators and coaches set up modifications and/or accommodations to maximize participation as soon as possible. If you have specific questions or concerns about a player’s participation, please contact us at [email protected].
3) How can I become a volunteer?
We are currently looking for adults interested in working on the administration side of things and/or as coaches. We are also looking for teenagers (13+ years) interested in serving as buddies. Please fill out this interest form and be sure to check the box if you would like to be added to the email list for program updates.